Sometimes what’s wrong with your air conditioning and heating system really doesn’t require the service of an expert repair person. Here are some common troubleshooting tips to go over before you call for a repair. A/C Not Cooling or Blowing? Check circuit breakers at fuse box. The outdoor condenser unit and indoor air handler unit have their own breaker. Even if breakers appear to be in the correct position, they are often tripped. Flip circuit breaker off and back on. Indoor A/C Unit Leaking Water? If the unit is leaking water one of three possible things has occurred Drain line is plugged. Check to see if your A/C drain line outside your home is draining properly. If it is not you can clear it by attaching a wet vacuum to the outside. Evaporator coil is dirty. Dirt, mold, and algae are growing on your coil causing it to drip> Coil is frozen with ice. Your A/C is probably low on freon. You will need to turn off the A/C and call for service. A/C Fan Runs Continuously?

Make sure your thermostat is set to the “Auto” position. A/C Runs,Won’t Cool Below 78 degrees Your A/C is possibly low on freon Your ductwork in the attic is leaking Your A/C is old and inefficient and can not keep up with the heat load Your air conditioner is under sized for the heat load demand Are Some Rooms Warmer than Others? In the warmer room, make sure the vent is open or open it further. If this does not resolve the problem, the situation is the result of one of the following three conditions. The ductwork was not sized properly The system needs to be balanced by adjusting the air flow dampers in the grills The ductwork has come apart and is leaking cool air into the attic. Thermostat Not Registering Correct Temperature? A temperature reading of within three (3) degrees up or down is considered normal. New digital thermostats are more accurate. Musty or Mildew Odor? Your ductwork got wet and is giving off a musty odor or it’s possibly growing mold.

No filters were used and the ductwork is dirty and growing mold. No filters or wrong filters were used and evaporator coil is plugged up with algae, fungus, mold and bacteria. Drain pan is full of algae, fungus, mold and bacteria. Call for service and schedule an extensive 21-point Breathe Green Tune-Up When Do A/C Filters Need Cleaning? A/C filters should be kept clean or replaced monthly.You should be using filters with a minimum MERV rating of 8 or higher. external ac unit not workingPlease visit our section on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).price of ac unit for home As dirt, debris, pollen and spores accumulates on your coil over time it will grow fungus, mold and bacteria. best ac unit for homeThis build-up will restrict your air flow and cause you to have less cooling throughout your house and, at the same time, increase your electric bill.

The bacteria and mold spores will circulate through your entire home and possibly affect your allergies and your health.The only way to fix this problem is to have the coil professionally cleaned. Why Should I Choose a Programmable Thermostat? Most programmable thermostats are capable of four different time and temperature settings. A programmable thermostat will reduce your power bill by fluctuating temperature settings while you are at work, away or asleep.We highly recommend this product. Is a yearly Tune-Up necessary? All A/C units should be maintained at least once per year. Burning Smell on Heat Mode? Check the circuit breakers at fuse box. Please note that when using your heat for the first time in cool weather, you may smell a slight burning odor. Dust has accumulated over the months and is burning off the heating coils. This is normal and should last no more than 30 minutes. No Heat Coming Out of the System? Make sure the heating temperature is set above the room temperature.

Check to make sure the thermostat is set to “Heat” and “Auto” position. Flip your circuit breaker off and back on. Some units can take 60 to 90 seconds before the heat cycle turns on. If you’ve allowed ample time and still no heat, turn your thermostat to the “OFF” position and call for service. Heat From System is Not Warm Enough? Make sure the temperature is set above the room temperature. As air circulates through the system, repeatedly, it will get warmer. If you have had your heat on for over 3 hours and it’s still not getting warm you need to call for service. Make sure the thermostat is set to the “Auto” position. If the actual temperature is above the temperature set, call for service. If the actual temperature is below the temperature set, the heat will continue to run until it reaches the temperature for which it is set. If you find it hasn’t shut off after reaching the requested temperature, call for service.Select LanguageAfrikaansAlbanianAmharicArabicArmenianAzerbaijaniBasqueBelarusianBengaliBosnianBulgarianCatalanCebuanoChichewaChinese (Simplified)Chinese (Traditional)CorsicanCroatianCzechDanishDutchEsperantoEstonianFilipinoFinnishFrenchFrisianGalicianGeorgianGermanGreekGujaratiHaitian CreoleHausaHawaiianHebrewHindiHmongHungarianIcelandicIgboIndonesianIrishItalianJapaneseJavaneseKannadaKazakhKhmerKoreanKurdish (Kurmanji)KyrgyzLaoLatinLatvianLithuanianLuxembourgishMacedonianMalagasyMalayMalayalamMalteseMaoriMarathiMongolianMyanmar (Burmese)NepaliNorwegianPashtoPersianPolishPortuguesePunjabiRomanianRussianSamoanScots GaelicSerbianSesothoShonaSindhiSinhalaSlovakSlovenianSomaliSpanishSundaneseSwahiliSwedishTajikTamilTeluguThaiTurkishUkrainianUrduUzbekVietnameseWelshXhosaYiddishYorubaZulu

What is "indoor air quality"? Indoor air quality (also called "indoor environmental quality") describes how inside air can affect a person's health, comfort, and ability to work.  It can include temperature, humidity, lack of outside air (poor ventilation), mold from water damage, or exposure to other chemicals.  Currently, OSHA has no indoor air quality (IAQ) standards but it does provide guidelines about the most common IAQ workplace complaints. What is considered good IAQ? The qualities of good IAQ should include comfortable temperature and humidity, adequate supply of fresh outdoor air, and control of pollutants from inside and outside of the building. What are the most common causes of IAQ problems? The most common causes of IAQ problems in buildings are: Not enough ventilation, lack of fresh outdoor air or contaminated air being brought into the building Poor upkeep of ventilation, heating and air-conditioning systems, and Dampness and moisture damage due to leaks, flooding or high humidity

Occupant activities, such as construction or remodeling Indoor and outdoor contaminated air How can I tell if there is an IAQ problem in my workplace? People working in buildings with poor IAQ may notice unpleasant or musty odors or may feel that the building is hot and stuffy. Some workers complain about symptoms that happen at work and go away when they leave work, like having headaches or feeling tired. Fever, cough, and shortness of breath can be symptoms of a more serious problem. Asthma and some causes of pneumonia (for example, Legionnaires’ Disease and Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis) have been linked to IAQ problems. If you have symptoms that are not going away or are getting worse, talk to your doctor about them. But not all exposures cause symptoms, so there is no substitute for good building management. Is there a test that can find an IAQ problem? There is no single test to find an IAQ problem. Your employer should check measurements of temperature, humidity and air flow.

In addition, inspection and testing of the ventilation, heating and air conditioning systems (to make sure it is working according to specifications for building use and occupancy) should be performed. A building walk-through to check for odors and look for water damage, leaks, dirt or pest droppings may be helpful. Leaks need to be eliminated. Standing water in humidifiers, air conditioning units, on roofs and in boiler pans can become contaminated with bacteria or fungi and need to be eliminated, also. In some circumstances, specific testing for radon or for asbestos may be required as part of building occupancy. For instance, in schools asbestos needs to be checked every three years and re-inspected every 6 months (under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act-AHERA). What should my employer be doing to prevent IAQ problems? Employers are required to follow the General Duty Clause of the OSHAct, which requires them to provide workers with a safe workplace that does not have any known hazards that cause or are likely to cause death or serious injury.  

The OSHAct also requires employers to obey occupational safety and health standards created under it. Employers should be reasonably aware of the possible sources of poor air quality, and they should have the resources necessary to recognize and control workplace hazards. It is also their responsibility to inform employees of the immediate dangers that are present.Specific state and local regulations may apply. Is there any specific information that I should keep track of to identify IAQ problems at work? The following information may be helpful to your doctor or your employer to figure out if there is an IAQ problem at your workplace: Do you have symptoms that just occur at work and go away when you get home?  What are these symptoms? Are these symptoms related to a certain time of day, a certain season or certain location at work? Did the symptoms start when something new happened at work, such as renovation or construction projects? Are there other people at work with similar complaints?

Did you already see a doctor for your symptoms, and if so, did the doctor diagnose an illness related to IAQ? If I think there is an IAQ problem at work or I think my office or building where I work is making me sick, what can I do? If you are concerned about air quality at work, ask your employer to check the ventilation, heating and air conditioning systems and to make sure there is no water damage. If you think that you have symptoms that may be related to IAQ at your work, talk to your doctor about them to see if they could be caused by indoor air pollution. Under the OSHAct, you have the right to contact an OSHA Office (see a map of OSHA offices) or to contact OSHA’s toll-free number: 1-800-321-OSHA (6742) or TTY 1-877-889-5627. Workers who would like a workplace inspection should send a written request (see area office addresses). A worker can tell OSHA not to let their employer know who filed the complaint. It is against the Act for an employer to fire, demote, transfer or discriminate in any way against a worker for filing a complaint or using other OSHA rights.

For more information on filing a request for an on-site inspection and the investigation process, see the webpage. States with OSHA-approved state plans provide the same protections to workers as federal OSHA, although they may follow slightly different complaint processing procedures. You may also request a Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). At no cost to employers or workers, NIOSH may investigate workplace health hazards in response to requests from employers, employees and their representatives, and federal agencies. For more information, see NIOSH's Health Hazard Evaluation Program. Thank You for Visiting Our Website You are exiting the Department of Labor's Web server. The Department of Labor does not endorse, takes no responsibility for, and exercises no control over the linked organization or its views, or contents, nor does it vouch for the accuracy or accessibility of the information contained on the destination server.